Have you prepped your car for cold winter driving? Whether you have a short commute or long drive ahead of you, it’s important to have your vehicle prepared for an emergency. Here are five ways to prep your car for your upcoming winter travel.
1. Maintain your car.
Assure that your...

We are officially two weeks away from the Sundance Film Festival. Individual tickets to screenings range from $20-$25, or you can get a Utah Student Ticket package for $150. Lucky for you, there are alternate ways to enjoy the Sundance Film Festival without burning a hole in your wallet....

The temperature is dropping, the mountains are dusted with snow, and there are exciting holiday adventures that await you! Here’s a list of the best cheap and free holiday activities and light displays in Utah.
Ongoing Holiday Events
CLAS Ropes Holiday Cruise (Provo) Date: Now-Dec 23rd Event: Lighted riverboat ride on lower Provo...

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin. With spring semester around the corner it’s time to buckle down so you can roll into 2018 with ease. Here are four tips to help you get ready for this upcoming spring semester.
1. Book an Appointment with Your...

Don’t be late for a very important date! Here is a list of tuition deadlines for the upcoming Spring 2018 semester for Utah Universities. Mark your calendar or set a reminder in your phone—you don’t want to miss this date. Not paying your tuition on time can result in...

Starting October 1st, 2017 both new and returning college students alike are eligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming 2018-2019 academic year. The FAFSA opens doors of opportunity by providing additional ways to finance your education. Filling out the FAFSA is required...

The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping—it’s time to unpack those sweaters, and grab the hot cocoa! Now through the end of October is the best time to catch fall colors. You know what they say, Winter is coming! So, take a breather from your studying and take...

As a college student, you know that sleep is important but do you understand why? Giving your body adequate rest helps improve mental and physical health, memory, focus, safety, and overall happiness – all of which are crucial to doing well in college. There are many common myths and misconceptions...

Take Advantage of Free Fun this Pioneer Day Weekend.
Did you know states can choose to include or omit holidays to fit the culture relevant to their population? If you live in California, you can celebrate Cesar Chavez Day. Or, if you’re fortunate enough to live in Hawaii, you can...

For the first time since 2014, all federal student loan interest rates will increase by 0.69% on July 1st, 2017 (see table below). Did You Know: There is a cap on how high federal student loan rates can go? Congress set the following limits—8.25% for undergraduates, 9.5% for graduate loans,...

Holidays are an exciting time to make memories and enjoy taking a break from your classes. However, the downside to holiday breaks is the toll they can take on your bank account. Last year, Americans spent $6.8 billion dollars celebrating the 4th of July. Consumers spend an average of $71.34...

7 out of 10 college students are worried about their finances. If you’re a college student, you know the feeling all too well. Finances are tight, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a blast this summer. Here are some tips and ideas to help you spend less money for...

As always, we encourage students to submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and exhaust all federal financial aid options like grants, work-study, and federal student loans BEFORE considering borrowing any private education loans. Whether you’ll be starting or continuing college in the fall, you need to...

"Creditworthiness" is another word for "financial trustworthiness." If you want to be seriously considered for things like great interest rates, better credit offers, and more, you need to pay close attention to your credit and debt balances, your credit score and what is reported on it, and also keep...

Credit scores are essential when determining if you qualify for a credit card, loan, or even a mortgage. Our credit scores also impact the interest we pay on loans and whether the loan is approved or denied. Did you know that apartment rentals, cell phone companies, and insurance companies may...

Valentine’s Day is viewed as a consumer holiday spent on candy, greeting cards, flowers, jewelry, clothes, gift certificates, and a romantic night out. According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. consumers are expected to spend a total of $18.2 billion dollars, averaging $136.57 per person this Valentine’s Day. Here are...

Institutional scholarships (or scholarship offered by your college) are a great way to earn money to pay for college without having to borrow loans. You can qualify for scholarships by getting good grades in school, presenting a paper on related subject matter in an application, for accomplishments in athletics...

Shining sun, swimming pools, adventurous road trips, sizzling outdoor cooking, staying hydrated— essentially the non-scientific definition of a great summer. If you’re a college student or a recent graduate, here are some ideas on how to stick to a budget while having fun in the sun. Infused Yummy Water Recipes.
Let’s...

Summer break is around the corner and you most likely want to get out of town for a few days. For those of you attending college in Utah, there are lots of fun, exciting, absolutely beautiful, and affordable places to explore within a short 30-minute to few hour drive. Affording...

Filling Taxes? Here’s How College, Jobs, Marriage or the Birth of a Child Changes Things.
When it comes to filing your taxes, it’s important to be aware of different tax credits you can receive. A new milestone in life is exciting! Congratulations on your new adventure. From going to college,...

Do you have an income coming in, but feel like you’re constantly broke? Do you ever think of what you’d actually do if you ran out of money? The best action plan is to learn to manage your money and develop healthy spending and saving habits—don’t let your finances...

According to the National Association of College Stores, college students spend about $67 per course material – and that’s just on average. From personal experience, I know that I have spent anywhere from $100 to $300 on a single book in some cases. When you need to buy textbooks...

Utah college students: Don’t miss the tuition deadlines at your school! If you do, you may have to pay late fees or be unregistered from your classes. Here are the deadlines for most of the schools in Utah to help refresh your memory. Supposing that you received your second disbursement...

Seeing family and friends for the holidays is the best! If you have taken a flight even once in your life, you can probably relate to these all-too-common holiday airport and travel moments. 1. You can't find your gate because the airport is so crowded. 2. You Saw One Snowflake and You’re Sure Your...

Filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the only way to apply for federal financial aid like grants, work-study, and student loans. If you’ve filed your FAFSA the last academic year and you think you’ll need financial aid for the next academic year, it’s required that you...

College comes with its fair number of obstacles, but it is 100% worth the effort! The view is worth the climb, right? Not to mention, it is comforting to know that we aren’t the only ones going through the college ringer. Here are some tips and tricks to help...

College students can qualify for federal student loans and private student loans to help pay for college. Being a responsible borrower means tracking your loan information frequently. It’s a good practice to login and track your loans at least once a month – federal or private.
Keeping Track of Federal Student...

If you were recently denied on a private student loan application, don’t be discouraged! You still have options. Rejection is hard for anyone – and it happens to everyone. First we’ll discuss the common reasons for a private student loan app being denied and then we’ll get into what...

As a college student, you may not have a lot of money to spare for scary-expensive Halloween decorations. Guess what? You can still have an exciting, frightening, and a ghoulish time in your dorm room or apartment this spooky season. Get ready for Halloween with these inexpensive DIY decorations. Milk Jug Ghosts
What...

Pursing post-secondary education is NOT just about getting your degree or diploma. College is a great time to develop different habits such as how you budget your time, budget your money and much more. Today, I want to share some money saving habits that you can learn while you're in college that will help you...

The White House recently announced modifications to the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that will benefit many students and families across the nation. The intent of this new modification, known as the Prior-Prior Year (PPY), is to make the application process simpler and quicker—also known as Early FAFSA. “I definitely...

Money plays a huge role when you’re in college. I worked four jobs so I didn’t have to ask my parents. There are a lot of ways you can save money that you probably haven't though of. You can borrow less money if you make smart cost cutting decisions. Here are 4 ways to...

It’s almost the end of summer, and you’re probably getting ready to go back to college. Here are some things you may come across during your first month back to school. Mixed Emotions You may experience mixed emotions about missing family and friends, and start to get nervous about your classes, and planning...

When a student starts college, it’s not all about the college student, it’s also about the parent. This can be a time when you start to get anxious about your child’s college education and their new independent life. As a parent, it's normal for you to wonder if your child...

Going back to school is exciting because it means you’re one step closer to graduate. This is also a time when you start preparing for sleepless nights--doing homework, eating Ramen for $0.30, hunting for free food, etc. Take the smart route and plan ahead. These 6 tips will help you maintain a...

If you know how to make sense of your loan repayment plan you can avoid falling into delinquency or default. Did you know that when you borrow money you're signing a legal agreement? This means, loan repayment is very important to sustain a good credit history. Repaying your student loans may...

Why do I need a cosigner?
There are a few reasons you might need a cosigner. First off, if your credit history is not strong or you don't have a long credit history, you might need a cosigner. If you're unemployed you will need a cosigner. Cosigners can improve the chances...

There are many ways to pay for college. Saving money while you're in college is also a clever way to pay for college. In order to do that you need to spend smart. When you’re a college student your life gets super-busy, which can leave very little time for cooking. You...

There are lots of objects, ideas, places, and people that you call “weird”. You can add some scholarships to that "weird" list as well. There some unique scholarships granted to students with very interesting titles. These rare and funny scholarships are no joke, you can receive free money to help pay for...

Here are some first-hand evidence for you to detect scholarship scams. Now you can be your own investigator to crack the suspense of "am I being scammed?". Your mystery to investigate legitimate scholarships can be reliable with these information below.
Billing information When you apply for a scholarship and if...

Paying for college can be a bumpy road for some people. If you’re lucky and paying for college is not a big deal, you still like free money (scholarships), right?
Gifts
Scholarships are gifts you receive to pay for college for who you are, what you do, what you think, and how you...

Do you remember how long it took to fill your piggybank when you were a kid?
Then you may know by now that saving for college is something you can’t do overnight. More Americans are saving money for higher education than before because they know saving for college is a long-term commitment. According to College...

Financial aid is generally available in one of the following types: Grants—federal/state money given to those who qualify based upon financial need Scholarships—money given for education, no need for repayment Work-study—money given to a qualified individual in exchange for work Loans—money loaned at a favorable rate but must be repaid Grants
Grants are awarded to...

You know that your choice to go to college is an important decision for your future. It will open opportunities for your life. By understanding what you'll make after you graduate you can make good decisions about your finances while you're in school. Just like you wouldn't start building...

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be the first thing you do if you're looking for financial aid to pay for your education. Think of the FAFSA as the gateway to financial aid. It’s the only way to apply for ALL federal and most states’ financial aid, including Pell...

Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grant (PELL) — The Federal Pell Grant (PELL) is financial aid that doesn’t have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund). Pell grants usually are awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. You are not...

Federal Work-Study provides part-time jobs on or off campus for students who demonstrate a financial need. The program allows you to earn money to help pay educational expenses and also encourages community service work and work related to your course of study. Apply for the Federal Work Study Program by...

If you are thinking about borrowing money for your education make sure you understand your options and take care not to overburden yourself with debt. When you compare federal student loans and private student loans you'll notice some important differences. The following list explains some of the ways federal...

Understanding financial aid award letters can be confusing. So here’s a solution—keep these 4 tips in mind and you can avoid some confusion with financial aid award letters.
Here are some common questions students ask:
What is a “package”?
In the context of college financial aid some refer to their financial aid...

Today we're going to cover how you can avoid the nightmare that is student loan default. First off, it would be helpful for you to know what delinquency and default mean. Keep in mind that the first day you fail to make payments on your student loan as scheduled in the...

Eligibility for deferment depends on your situation and the terms of your student loan. Deferment may allow you to temporarily postpone your monthly payments. Make sure to find out if your lender requires you to pay interest during the postponed period. If you have a Federal Perkins Loan, Direct Subsidized loan,...

Graduating from college is always exciting, but don’t forget that you'll start repaying your loans soon - which is decidedly less exiting. On most federal student loans you get a 6-month grace period, however, each loan has its own terms, so make sure to find out how long your grace period is. Here...

When you compare student loan products it's important to look at the details. Does the lender give your rate before you apply? Is the interest rate fixed? What are the terms of your student loan? These are just a few of the questions to keep in mind when comparing...

We encourage you to read our Application and Solicitation Disclosure PDF carefully before applying for Complete Student Loans. We want to be completely transparent with you so there’s no surprises later.